Emerging Valley 2024 : Marseille, financial platform for Europe-Africa innovation

By Dounia Ben Mohamed, in Aix-en-Provence

Video report by Edwige Wamanisa

Marseille is ‘The best place to be’ for future innovation between Europe and Africa, » promised Yves Cabanac

France Director of Plug and Play Tech Center

Indeed, in light of the participation and exchanges at the latest edition of Emerging Valley, Marseille seems to have solidified its role as an essential platform for innovation and financial exchanges between Europe and Africa. The event, held this year on December 3, not exactly in Marseille but in the hills above the Phocean city at TheCamp—a space specifically designed to provide innovative infrastructure for development and transformation in Aix-en-Provence—once again demonstrated its role as a strategic bridge between Africa, Europe, and the rest of the world.

With a record participation of financial stakeholders and African startups, this edition brought together more than 100 African startups from countries such as Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia, and Algeria. In total, 150 international speakers participated in about forty conferences, with a central theme: financing. This focus reflects Emerging Valley’s ambition to become a bridge for mobilizing funding, strengthening technical capacities, and promoting strategic partnerships between the two continents.

This edition symbolizes a new milestone, bringing together an unprecedented number of investors and innovators

said Samir Abdelkrim, founder of Emerging Valley

Marseille: A strategic hub for innovation

Marseille’s unique geography, as Europe’s gateway to the Mediterranean, makes it an ideal location for catalyzing Euro-African collaborations. Supported by institutions like Euroméditerranée and the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, the city attracts a diverse ecosystem of stakeholders engaged in technological, financial, and sustainable projects.

Marseille is a crossroads city between the two continents. We want to be a key player in this dynamic and make innovation a growth driver in the service of the common good

mphasized Jean-Pierre Cochet, Deputy Mayor of Marseille.

Among the flagship initiatives, structures like La Coque and Le Lab foster exchanges between European and African startups. At the same time, local incubators and accelerators stimulate projects in key areas such as fintech, edtech, and renewable energy.

Innovation serving sustainable development

Discussions at Emerging Valley 2024 highlighted innovative projects focused on sustainable transformation, particularly in inclusive finance, renewable energy, and smart agriculture sectors. These initiatives aim to address global challenges while supporting economic growth in Africa.

Marseille has found its niche by combining geographic proximity and historical ties with Africa

noted Jean Van Wetter, General Director of Enabel

The investors present, from Japan, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and North Africa, also reaffirmed their commitment to solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes digitizing financial services and expanding mobile banking access for underbanked populations.

A hub for co-creating the technological future of both continents

Since its creation in 2017, Emerging Valley has welcomed over 12,000 participants, 750 speakers, and 650 startups, becoming an essential event for Euro-African cooperation. It contributes to anchoring the region in the future it is shaping.

Aix-Marseille-Provence is asserting itself as the key territory for co-creating the technological future of the two continents

stressed Samir Abdelkrim

Nassim Kerdjoudj, CEO of Keyen Venture, a Franco-Algerian accelerator established in the region, is convinced : « We have the intuition that in 5 to 10 years, Marseille will be an essential city in terms of innovation. And that’s why we’re here!«